. >> anything is possible in a debate. but in order for it to have real impact, romney would have to take risks and obama make mistakes. >> reporter: the risks for romney moving to the center in order to appeal to centrist voters risking setting off the right. still for for the ongoing ad war. >> people say romney should come in with zingers and try to make obama lose his cool. >> reporter: zingers make debate history. dan quail was comparing himself to jack kennedy. >> senator, you're no jack kennedy. >> but here's the punch line of that. who won the election? bush and quail. >> reporter: but staying cool under attack? >> here you go again. >> reporter: you get points. being too cool. >> if kitty dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer. >> no, i don't, bernard. >> reporter: his numbers dropped immediately after the seemingly unfeeling too cool answer. >> substance is more important, but the meaner counts. >> reporter: an impatient george bush checks his watch and suffer